Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume VIII, International Monetary and Trade Policy

325. Circular Airgram From the Department of State to Certain Posts¹

CA-2863

Washington, October 12, 1966, 2:18 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Statements US Farm Groups—Kennedy Round

REF

• Deptel 62827, Oct. 10, 1966;² CA-2653, Oct. 5, 1966³

Statement of the three US farm groups referred to in the referenced telegram and, where pertinent, STR replies thereto are enclosed in single copies for all addressee posts.⁴

To date, three national agricultural bodies—The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the US National Fruit Export Council—have demanded complete withdrawal of American offers from the Kennedy Round negotiations (for text of Fruit Council Statement see CA-2653). Three farm groups—The National Grange (no statement available), the National Farmers Union and the National Livestock Feeders Association) have suggested that the time has arrived either for withdrawal of US agricultural offers or reassessment of the direction in which the talks are headed. Great Plains Wheat, Western Wheat Associates, and the National Association of Wheat Growers have focused on the KR cereals negotiations urging assured access to EEC markets and that industrial and agricultural sectors be negotiated jointly.

As suggested in the reftel, posts should use statements informally to illustrate the buildup of domestic pressures urging US withdrawal from the Kennedy Round should the EEC fail to improve significantly its agricultural offers as appropriate. The measured replies of Governor Herter should also be drawn upon.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, FT 7 GATT. Limited Official Use. Drafted by James Johnson (EUR/RPE) on October 11; cleared by Leonard U. Wilson (STR), Julius L. Katz (E/OT), Thomas W. Fina (EUR/RPE); and approved by Deane R. Hinton (EUR/RPE). Sent to 22 diplomatic missions.
2. Telegram 62827 to 19 diplomatic missions, October 10, transmitted the text of the press release by the Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations responding to farm organizations’ proposals to withdraw U.S. Kennedy Round agricultural offers unless EEC offers were substantially improved. (Ibid., FT 13 2 US)
3. See footnote 1, Document 321.
4. The five enclosures, none printed, are as follows: 1) letter from B. H. Jones (National Livestock Feeders Association), September 26, and Herter’s reply, October 4; 2) letter from Charles B. Shuman (American Farm Bureau Federation) to Herter, September 14, and Herter’s reply, September 27; 3) letter from Kenneth D. Naden (National Council of Farmer Cooperatives) to Herter, September 29, and Herter’s reply, October 4; 4) letter from James G. Patton (National Farmers Union) to Herter, October 5; and 5) statement by three wheat associations, September 9.